For Dr. Terri Pukanich, good dental care is about more than the treatment itself.
“We can provide a really great experience around so many different steps and touch points with the patient,” says Dr. Pukanich, who practices at Slave Lake Dental in Slave Lake, Alberta.
Moreover, the patient experience is something she is passionate about teaching. It’s also why she was invited to speak at the 2026 Alberta Dental Team Summit in Banff. Once she knew she would be there, she decided to bring her entire team.
Closing the clinic to invest in the team
The clinic had been considering the trip for a couple of years. This year, the team closed the clinic and made the long trip from Slave Lake together.
“The most important thing for me, in terms of bringing the team, is showing your team how you want to invest in them,” says Dr. Pukanich. “You want to invest in their learning, their growth, and their togetherness as a team.”
She believes people often underestimate how closely dentists and their teams work together. “I don’t think the general public really understands that,” she says.
Better teams, better care
For Dr. Pukanich, team culture and patient care go hand in hand. When a team shares a common goal, everyone’s experience improves.
“The better we work together, the better everyone’s experience is going to be. [Both] your team’s experience and your patients’ experience.”
Many of her team members had never been to Banff before the Summit. “I’ve taken my team to a lot of conferences, and this blew us away,” she says. She credits the breakout and scientific sessions, the keynote speakers, the food, and the way the event was organized. “I’m so glad we brought everybody.”
Learning together
The Alberta Dental Team Summit is designed for dentists and their teams to learn side by side. Its focus is the teamwork that shapes how patients experience their care.
The 2027 Alberta Dental Team Summit takes place March 18 to 20 at the majestic Fairmont Banff Springs. Register your team at albertadentalteamsummit.ca